Firearm



Oct. 15, 1946. M.M. JOHNSON, JR 0 FIREARM 7 Filed March 13, 1941 sShets-Sheet 1 'jwziiaf 19 e 1 M3 Maw?- Get. 15, 1946.

- M. M. JQOHNSFON, JR

FIREARM Filed March 15, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1946; M. M.JOHNSON, JR

FIREARM Filed March 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 A y JWW ma 9 W 7".

x Oct. 15, 1946. M. M. JOHNSON, JR

FIREARM Filed March 13, 1941 6'Sheets-Sheet 4 W. V Z lllll Get. 125,1946. M. M. JOHNSON, JR

FIREARM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 13, 1941 Oct. 15, 194%.

M. M. JOHNSON, JR FIREARM Filed March 13, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

has I I flu Patented Oct. 15, 1946 FIREARM Melvin M. Johnson, J12,Brookline, Mass, assignor to Melvin M. Johnson and Melvin M. Johnson,Jn, both of Brookline, and Edward E. Rice, Boston, Mass., as trustees ofJohnson Patent Trust of Boston, Mass.

Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,072

7 Claims.

This invention relates to means for feeding cartridges to firearms,particularly automatic and semi-automatic guns of the military rifle andmachine gun type. While various kinds of breech action and fire controlmechanism may be employed, the mechanism is preferably of the typedisclosed in my prior Patents 2,094,156, 2,146,743 and 2,215,470 andcopending application Ser. No. 383,071, filed March 13, 1941, now PatentNo. 2,383,487, dated August 28, 1945.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide cartridge-feedingmechanism which is simple and economical in construction, which isreliable and durable in use, which can be assembled and disassembledwith facility, which may be loaded or unloaded quickly and easilywithout detaching the magazine from the firearm, which can be loaded orunloadedwith the bolt in either open or closed position, which can beloaded with loose cartridges or from standard cartridge clips, which canbe reloaded if only partially empty, which requires no lips on theforward end of the magazine and which is generally superior to priorcartridge-feeding mechanisms of the type to which the present inventionrelates.

Other objects of the invention 'will be evident from the followingdescription and the illustrated embodiments shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a firearm of the type abovereferred to, with one embodiment of the present invention incorporatedtherein;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the firearm;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the cartridge-feedingmechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a left side elevation with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the front end plate of the magazine support;

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the rear end plate of the magazine support;

Fig. 10 is a front end view of the subframe which carries thefire-control mechanism, viewed from the line [0 in Fig. '7, a part ofthe receiver being shown in section;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the magazine;

Fig. 12 is a-rear elevation of the right end of the magazine;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the left end of the magazine;

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the right end of the magazine;

Fig. 15 is a section on line l5-l5 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is a section on line iii-l6 of Fig. 13; and

Figs. 17 and 18 are perspective views of the magazine follower.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration comprises a barrel l and a receiver R having a perforatedextension surrounding the rear end of the barrel, the barrel being freeto reciprocate back and forth in the receiver as fully described in theaforesaid patents. Sliding onto the receiver R from the rear with adovetail connection (Fig. 10) is a subframe R which carries the firingmechanism disclosed in the aforesaid copending application, the subframebeing held in normal position by means of a catch 3 which is pressedinwardly to release the subframe. Depending from the subframe is apistol-type grip i, the sides of which are covered with face pieces ofwood or plastic material. Attached to the rear end of the receiver is astock 6, the upper portion of which has a cylindrical opening to receivethe rear end of the receiver. A wooden grip piece 8 is mounted under theperforated extension of the receiver. The right-hand side of thereceiver is provided with a slot H to accommodate the bolt handle I2with which the breech bolt may be retracted manually.

Mounted in a recess between the subframe R andthe grip piece 8 is amagazine support MS which projects from the left-hand side of the gun asshown in Fig. 2 and which is adapted to receive into its open left endan elongate magazine M. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the cartridges feedfrom the left to the position occupied by the cartridge C where thecartridge is picked up by the bolt as the belt moves forward in the boltchamber 1 from recoil position to firing position. In line with themouth of the magazine is an opening 0 through which cartridges may beinserted into the magazine from a clip CC (Fig. 3) fitting into the clipguide CG projecting from the righthand side of the receiver immediatelyin the rear of the magazine support (Fig. 1). The opening 0 is normallyclosed by a closure 53 pivotally mounted on the magazine support at l4,the closure having an inclined portion l5 which, when the closure is inclosed position, serves to guide the foremost cartridge into thedelivery position indicated at C in Figs. 3 and 4. The closure it has adepressed portion Hi to receive a detent lili (Fig. 1) projectinginwardly from the lower forward end of the clip guide CG to limit theoutward movement of theclosure, in response to the spring l8, to theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The closure l3 has a recess I 8to accommodate the in the bottom of the receiver.

part IQ of the magazine support which assists in guiding the cartridgesas they pass from the mouth of the magazine to the inclined surface l5of the closure.

The magazine support MS has front and rear ends 2| and 22 whichtelescope over the body of the support and are welded thereto. The endshave aligned openings 23 and 24 to receive the pintle l4 and the frontend is recessed at 25 to provide more space for the cartridge as itrides upwardly and forwardly into the firing chamber. Welded to thefront face of the front end 2| is a block 26 having forwardly projectingjaws, 21 adapted to straddle a pin 28 bridging the slot 29 Welded to therear face of the rear end 22 is a block 3| having at the bottom aT-shaped projection 32 and at the top a rearward projection 33 carryinga side projection 34. As shown in Fig. 7 the projection 32 extends intoa similarly shaped recess 35 in the forward end of the subframe R andthe projection 33 extends into the opening in the bottom of the receiverR, the combined widths of the parts 33 and 34 being equal to the widthof the opening in the receiver as shown in Fig. 3. Projecting upwardlyfrom the top of the magazine support is a flange 36 having at the top anoutturned lip 31. On the left-hand side of the receiver is a rib 38, therear end of which is slotted to the line 39 (Fig. 7) to form a tongue4|] which extends under the lip 31 along the outer side of the flange 36(Figs. 4 and '7). The rear end of the flange 35 is cut away as indicatedat 4| in Fig. '7 so that the flange does not interfere with the ejector42 mounted in slot 43 in the left-hand side of the receiver. To removethe magazine support the subframe R is first removed by pressing inward-1y on the catch 3 (Fig. l) and then sliding the subframe off thereceiver to the rear, the subframe being mounted on the receiver bymeans of the dovetail connection shown in Fig. 10. After the subframehas been removed the maga e pp t y e s pped to the rear until the flange35 is disengaged from the tongue 40 and until the jaws 21 are disengagedfrom the pin 28, whereupon the magazine support may be moved downwardlyaway from the receiver. Instead of entirely removing the subframe it maymerely be retracted a distance equal to the combined length of the lugs21 and 32, whereupon the magazine support may be removed withoutentirely removing the subframe.

The magazine support has a left-hand extension comprising a bottom 44and a top 46, the bottom telescoping over the top as shown in Fig. 7 andbeing welded to the top. As shown in Fig. 4 the bottom 44 is preferablyintegral with the left-hand vertical wall 41 of the magazine support. Tobrace the left-hand extension a channel-shaped member 48 (Fi '7) iswelded to the walls 44 and 41.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 6 the top 46 of the left-handextension of the magazine support is provided with an opening 5| thelefthand end of which is enlarged as indicated at 52 in Fig. 6, thisopening being provided to receive a spring detent 53 mounted on themagazine at its rear end as indicated at 54 and having a nose 5-5 at itsother end to retain the cartridges in the magazine as indicated in Fig.12. Near its forward end the detent has laterally projecting ears 56 forthe purpose of moving the detent to retracted position as the magazine Mis pushed into the left-hand extension of the magazine support. Mountedon opposite sides of the opening 5| are angle guides 51 having inclinedsurfaces 58 for engagement with the lateral extensions 56. At theforward. ends of the inclined surface 58 are recesses 5.9 into which thelateral ears 56 snap to hold the magazine in the magazine support. Thetop 46 of the magazine support has a raised portion 5| to accommodatethe detent 53 as the ma azine is slipped into the support from the left.As the magazine is pushed into the support the ears 56 slide up theinclined surfaces 58 to move the detent 53 to the retracted positionshown in Figs. 3 and 4.

For the purpose of lifting the ears 56 out of the recesses 59 to removethe magazine from the support, a lever 82 is pivotally mounted on theextension 46 by means of a pin 63 journaled in angle brackets (-24 fastto the extension, the lever having a lateral extension 55 extendingunder one of the ears 53 and the pin 63 carrying a spring 66 to hold thelever in the retracted position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To remove themagazine the outer end of the lever 62 is depressed to lift the ears 55out of the recesses 59 whereupon the magazine may be slipped out of thesupport to the left.

- The magazine shown in Figs. 11 to 18 comprises top and bottom portionsH and I2 telescoped together as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 with theiroverlapping parts welded together. The upper and lower walls of themagazine are provided with longitudinal depressions l3 and 14 to serveas guides for the cartridges, the depression I3 being deeper than thedepression M because of 1 the smaller diameter of the portions of thecartridges between the ribs 13 (Fig. 14) The lefthand end of themagazine is closed by a plate 15 which fits between the ends of the ribs13 and i5 and flanges l6 and H on the top and bottom members H and 12.The end plate 15 has its central portion struck up in the form of alongitudinal ridge 18 one end of which is provided with an opening 19 toreceive the pointed end of a cartridge (Fig. 16) to facilitate removalof the end by springing the left-hand end (Figs. 13 and 16) of the plateoutwardly and then sliding the plate to the left. At the right-hand endof the magazine the top and bottom walls H and 12 are bent inwardly toform lips 8| and 82 (Fig. 15).

The follower shown in Figs. 17 and. 18 comprises a tubular member havinga top wall 83, a bottom wall 84, a front wall and a rear Wall 86. Themember is preferably made of sheet metal and the meeting edges of thesheet are tied together by U-shaped straps 81 the ends of which are spotwelded to the follower so that the central portions of the straps arespaced away from the rear face 85 (Fig. 18) to receive the end of thefollower spring 88 as shown in Fig. 11. The top and bottom walls 83 and84 of the follower are struck up to form stops 89 for engagement withthe lips 3| and 82 to limit the outward movement of the follower inresponse to the spring 88 t0 the position shown in Fig. 15. The top andbottom walls 83 and 84 are also provided with transverse recesses toaccommodate the ribs 13. Throughout the length of the followercorresponding to the width of the hook 55 the rear wall 86 is cut awayand the top wall is bent down to form the inclined surface 9| (Figs. 15and 17). Thus when the follower is in the fully extended position. shownin Fig. 15 the detent 53 may lie in normal position against the top ofthe magazine with the nose 55 extending into the recess in the follower,and when the follower is pressed into the magazine in loading themagazine the nose 55 slides up the inclined surface 9|. After themagazine has been loaded the nose '55 snaps back to the position shownin Figs. 12 and 15 to hold the cartridges in the magazine until themagazine is inserted into the magazine holder. In inserting the magazineinto the magazine holder the nose 55 is automaticall retracted to theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as above described.

From the foregoing it will be evident that whether the magazine ispartly or entirely empty it be quickly filled with cartridges merely bypressing the cartridges into the open end of the magazine, that thisloading operation may be performed either with or without a loading clipand either before or after the magazine has been inserted into themagazine holder, that the insertion of the clip CC into the clip guideCG auto matically opens the closure 3 to permit the insertion of thecartridges from the clip, that the magazine may be reloaded with thebolt in either retracted or firing position, that the magazine may beinserted and latched in position merely by pushing it into the extension46 of the magazine support and that the magazine may be readily removedmerely by depressing the lever 52.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A firearm comprising a, receiver having a bolt chamber for arecoiling bolt, a cartridge magazine, a magazine support for detachablyholding the magazine in position to deliver cartridges along apassageway leading from one side of the receiver to an outlet adjacentthe path of the bolt, a spring-pressed follower for advancing thecartridges along said passageway to said outlet, the receiver having aloading opening in the other side thereof in alignment with saidpassageway through which cartridges may be loaded into the magazinealong a path passing through the receiver past the bolt chambertangentially, without first retracting the springpressed follower andwithout passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, and means on themagazine support for closing said loading opening, the magazine havingan open mouth through which cartridges may enter or leave the magazinelengthwise of the cartridge channel leading to the mouth, a detent forobstructing said mouth when the magazine is removed from the support toprevent the cartridges from being ejected by said follower through theopen mouth, and a door pivotally mounted to swing into the magazinesupport in response to pressure on its outer surface to permit themagazine to be loaded through the magazine support, the door having aninner surface inclined to said outer surface for uiding cartridges alongsaid passageway toward the outlet adjacent the path of the bolt, wherebythe magazine may be loaded either before or after it is attached to thesupport by pushing cartridges through said mouth lengthwise of saidchannel.

2. A firearm comprising a receiver having a bolt chamber for a recoilingbolt, the receiver having a transverse recess adjacent one side of thebolt chamber, a magazine support mounted in said recess, an elongatemagazine, means for detachably supporting the magazine on one side ofsaid support with its mouth directed approximately tangentially to thebolt chamber, the

other side of the support opposite said mouth having an opening topermit the passage of cartridges through the receiver to or from themouth of the magazine without passing through the bolt chamber, and adoor on the support for closing said opening, the mouth of the magazinebeing open so that cartridges may enter or leave the magazine lengthwisethereof, a detent for obstructing said mouth when the magazine isremoved from the support to prevent the cartridges from being ejected bysaid follower through the open mouth, and a door pivotally mounted toswing into the magazine support in response to pressure on its outersurface to permit the magazine to be loaded through the magazinesupport, the door having an inner surface incdined to said outer surfacefor guiding cartridges along said passageway toward the outlet adjacentthe path of the bolt, whereby the magazine may be loaded either beforeor after it is attached to the support by pushing cartridges throughsaid mouth lengthwise thereof.

3. A firearm comprising a receiver having a chamber, a recoiling bolt inthe chamber, the receiver having a recess in one side, a magazine holdermounted in said recess, the holder having a magazine opening in one sideand a loading opening in the opposite side, a magazine, means fordetachably mounting the magazine in the first opening with its mouthdirected toward the other opening, said openings being oifset to oneside of the bolt so that with the bolt in closed position cartridges maybe pushed from the loading opening through the receiver past the boltand thence into the magazine, and a spring-pressed closure for theloading opening, the closure being mounted on said holder to openautomatically in response to pressure on its outer side when insertingcartridges, the magazine having an open mouth through which cartridgesmay enter or leave the magazine lengthwise of its cartridge channelleading to the mouth, and a detent for obstructing said mouth when themagazine is removed from the holder to prevent the cartridges from beingejected by said follower through the open mouth, whereby the magazinemay be loaded either before or after it is attached to the holder bypushing cartridges through said mouth lengthwise of said channel.

4. A firearm comprising a receiver having a bolt chamber, a recoilingbolt in the chamber, the receiver having a transverse recess adjacentone side of the bolt chamber, a magazine holder mounted on the receiver,both ends of the holder being open and one end being presented to saidrecess, the holder having a tubular portion, a tubular magazine fittinginto the tubular portion of the holder from the other end of the holder,the magazine having an open mouth through which cartridges may enter orleave the magazine lengthwise thereof, and a door on said holderopposite said mouth for guiding the foremost cartridge into position tobe picked up by said bolt, the door being retractible to an openposition in which cartridges may be inserted into the magazine past saidbolt, whereby the magazine may be loaded either before or after it isattached to the holder by pushing cartridges through said mouthlengthwise of the magazine.

5. A firearm comprising a receiver having a bolt chamber, a recoilingbolt in the chamber, the receiver having a transverse recess adjacentone side of the bolt chamber, a magazine holder mounted on the receiver,both ends of the holder being open and one end being presented to saidrecess, the holder having a tubular portion, a tubular magazine fittinginto the tubular portion of the holder from the other end of the holder,the magazine having an open mouth through which cartridges may enter orleave the magazine lengthwise thereof, a follower movable through saidopen mouth to push the last cartridge beyond the end of the magazineinto position to be picked up by the bolt, a movable detent forobstructing said mouth when the magazine is removed from the holder toprevent the cartridges from being ejected by said follower through theopen mouth, and a door on said holder opposite said mouth for guidingthe foremost cartridge into position to be picked up by said bolt, thedoor being retractible to an open position in which cartridges may beinserted into the magazine past said bolt, whereby the magazine may beloaded either before or after it is attached to the holder by pushingcartridges through said mouth lengthwise of the magazine.

6. A firearm comprising a receiver having a bolt chamber, a recoilingbolt in the chamber, the receiver having a transverse recess adjacentone side of the bolt chamber, a magazine holder mounted on the receiver,both ends of the holder being open and one end being presented to saidrecess, the holder having a tubular portion, a tubular magazine fittinginto the tubular portion of the holder from the other end of the holder,the magazine having an open mouth through which cartridges may enter orleave the magazine lengthwise thereof, a follower movable through saidopen mouth to push the last cartridge beyond the end of the magazineinto position to be picked up by the bolt, and a door on said holderopposite said mouth for guiding the foremost cartridge into saidposition, the door being retractible to an open position in whichcartridges may be inserted into the magazine past said bolt, whereby themagazine may be loaded either before or after it is attached to theholder by pushing cartridges through said mouth lengthwise of themagazine.

'7. A firearm comprising a receiver having a bolt chamber, a recoilingbolt in the chamber, the receiver having a transverse recess at, oneside thereof, a frame slidably interconnected 'with said side of thereceiver for relative movement lengthwise of the receiver, the framebeing constructed and arranged to carry fire-control mechanism, amagazine holder having a fastener at one end of said recess forengagement with the receiver, interengaging means on said frame andholder at the other end of the recess so that the holder can be removedby sliding the frame away from the recess, both ends of the holder beinopen and one end being presented to said recess, the holder having atubular portion, a tubular magazine fitting into the tubular portion ofthe holder from the other end of the holder, the magazine having an openmouth through which cartridges may enter or leave the magazinelengthwise thereof, and a door on said holder opposite said mouth forguiding the foremost cartridge into position to be picked up by saidbolt, the door being retractible to an open position in which cartridgesmay be inserted into the magazine past said bolt, whereby the magazinema be loaded either before or after it is attached to the holder bypushing cartridges through said mouth lengthwise of the magazine.

MELVIN M. JOHNSON, JR.

